Dominant Performances the Hallmark

NZ Junior National Champs

Dominant performances were the hallmark of racing at the 2014 New Zealand Junior Motocross Champions near Greymouth at the weekend.

Titles were on offer in six separate categories and maximum tallies were achieved by riders in four of those at the Backflips Clothing and KTM-sponsored event, held at Waipuna Station, Ikamatua, Westland, over the Anzac weekend.

Racing was reduced from seven races per class to just five over Saturday and Sunday as wild weather leading up to the event had turned much of the venue – about halfway between Reefton and Greymouth – into a quagmire. But fine weather greeted the riders for much of the weekend and there seemed to be no problems for the riders to find traction on the farmland course.

Taupo’s Cohen Chase won three of his five races in the premier 14-16 years’ 250cc class, and he finished runner-up in the other two, easily beating Oamaru’s Joel Meikle to the trophy, while his younger brother Wyatt Chase enjoyed similar dominance in the eldest of the 85cc bike classes, for riders aged 13-16 years.

Wyatt Chase won four of his five outings, an eighth placing in race one his only hiccup. Wyatt Chase finished the championship equal on points with Taihape’s Hayden Smith, but was eventually given the title on a count-back because he had scored more race wins.

Other class winners were Rangiora’s Dylan Walsh, who won the 15-16 years’ 125cc class ahead of Ngatea’s Benjamin Broad, while Nelson’s Reece Walker won the 12-14 years 125cc class ahead of Te Puke’s Tyler Steiner.

Visiting Australian rider Tyler Darby won the 11-12 years’ 85cc title and Auckland’s Ryan Webley won the 8-10 years’ 85cc crown.

Walsh, Walker, Darby and Webley were each unbeaten over the weekend, achieving their respective title wins with maximum points to their credit.